Chapter Five

"The Battle Before Grayskull"

Explosions ripped through the air as Stratos lead the Avions forward through the night sky. "Open fire! Launch attack!" he shouted. "For Avion! For Eternia!"

The Avions behind opened fire with missiles and lasers. They shot forth, and slammed against the armored body of the Dark Cloud. The burst of flame pelted the armor as they rammed him with their weapons. Nothing happened.

Swiftly from behind the Avions came the Insectoids. They themselves unleashed spears and they snapped against the Dark Cloud. Buzz-Off then moved his people away from the Dark Cloud, allowing the Dragons to release dragon flame upon the great being. This, amazingly, actually made the Dark Cloud stop.

"Elves of Eternia!" shouted their king. "Let loose your arrows!"

The Elves pulled back the strings and let fly their scared arrows. They shot forth and struck the Dark Cloud. Despite crashed and breaking upon hitting the Nameless One, the Dark Cloud was staggered. The Dragons bellowed a second splash of fire, which caused to Dark Cloud to be pressed back.

"Goblins! Bears! Let your weapons speed forth!"

Lasers and throwing knifes fell from the hands of the Bears and Goblins. They shot forward and struck the Dark Cloud in concert with the Dragon flame and Elfish arrows.

"Avions and Insectoids, second wave!" Stratos shouted with Buzz-Off by his side.

The flying men of Eternia moved forward and fired upon the Dark Cloud a second barrage of weapons, blasting the evil creature backwards.

"Do not let him stand!" snarled the Trolls of Darksmoke, launching rocks towards the Dark Cloud.

"Give him no mercy!" growled Lodar, ordering his Kobloids to open fire with their pellet guns.

"Keep striking him down!" hissed King Paw, pointing his Cats to aim their crossbows at the armored Dark Cloud.

From the highest tower of Grayskull, perched Granamyr who studied the battle carefully. Explosions roared in concert with the thunder above. The Dark Cloud was still only hitting the front lines. The kingdoms of Men had barely even been touched.

His Dragons swirled around the entire plains, and proceeded to rain their fire upon the Dark Cloud along with the arrows, spears, rocks, missiles, bullets and lasers from the army. It would only be a matter of time, though, until the Dark Cloud fought back. And that would not be pleasant.

Situated within the walls of Grayskull, Man-At-Arms displayed the battle from outside. "Things seem to be going well," he said to the others.

"Do not underestimate the enemy," Hordak snorted. "And do no overestimate him. Just go for the heart."

"Worlds to fight by, eh Hordak?" questioned She-Ra.

"Ask Randor."

The King of Eternos fumed. "How dare you!?"

"Randor, calm down," Johanna eased, putting her hand on her brother's shoulder.

Hordak laughed leaned up against a pillar, and looked back the monitor. "This victory won't be easy. It's a fine start, indeed, but the conclusion . . . the conclusion will be truly matters."

"He's preparing for a counter-attack," the Sorceress stated from the throne.

Buzz-Off pointed towards an opened area on the Dark Cloud. Spears and lasers shot forth, and smashed against the Dark Cloud's back. He shrugged them off, though, and stood full height. Stratos joined Buzz-Off's side and spotted now what the Dark Cloud was doing.

"No . . ." grunted the Avion king.

"He's forming a weapon!" shouted Buzz-Off. "ATTACK! ATTACK!"

But it was too late. A black smoke swirled in the Dark Cloud's hand and formed into a gigantic mace. It was huge, and seemed to glow with an unseen fire. The Insectoids and the Avions dove in for a frontal assualt. The Dark Cloud lifted the mace then and -

A wave slammed against the Avions and the Insectoids, and they all went reeling back. The Dragons launched their flames once more, but it had a much more minimal effect on the Dark Cloud. Once more he waved his mace -

The Dragons snarled were thrown backwards. A glow began to form around the Dark Cloud, then, and the sound was given. Horns were blown, feet stomped.

"CHARGE!"

The races of Eternia rushed forward, weapons drawn. The war had begun in full force and the march and charge against the Dark Cloud had finally commenced.

"And so they surged forth," Granamyr mused. "The assembled races of Eternia charged upon its enemy. The depths of space could not hold the deathless terror and the chains that bound it at the curve of the universe would not lock it down forever. But they marched forward, these brave soldiers, towards the Nameless One. The Men, the Avions, the Insectoids, the Cats, the Bears, the Lizards, the Dragons, the Elves, the Goblins, the Mer-People, the Widgets, the Kobloids, the Ilkorts - all sent forth their lives against this villain of worlds. Who shall see the end of this conflict? Who shall move onto the next step?"

As figures rushed against the power of the Dark Cloud, a mist formed and the mace swung, sending warriors backwards. No one could get a clear shot due to all their fellow soldiers standing there. Thunder and lightning scoured the skies and the purple haze was turning black.

And then, as all the races on Eternia rumbled against the Dark Cloud, a voice sounded forth. It was the sound of thunder given the form of words.

"YOU CALL YOURSELVES WARRIORS AND SOLDIERS?! SO SHALL YOU BE DEFEATED BY MY HANDS! YOU ARE UNWORTHY OF MY DEATH, BUT SHALL BE SWATTED LIKE INSECTS!"

A light brimmed from around the Dark Cloud. A wind picked up and swirled and churned. All soaring warriors - Dragons, Avions, and Insectoids - were suddenly caught up in the gale. The light grew stronger and more brillant. The mist began to increase and soon encased the entire army of Eternia.

The winds picked up and their speed increased exponentially. Thunder cracked above and all of the army was suddenly lifted up into the air. They were then brought to a halt high above the fields, just under the pitch-black clouds.

With the army suspended in the air, the Dark Cloud stepped forward upon the bare ground. His footing seemed a bit off, and looked as if this fight had weakened him.

The thunder rolled once more and spoke with the voice of the Dark Cloud. "IS THERE NO ONE ELSE TO FIGHT ME? THE ARMY OF ETERNIA HAS BEEN DEFEATED AND ARE MY PRISONERS!"

The drawbridge suddenly opened and out poured the Heroic Warriors, Evil Warriors, Great Rebellion, Snake Men, and the Horde Elite all emptied out.

"I SEE NOW THAT THESE ARE THE TRUE CHAMPIONS OF ETERNIA! FACE ME YOU THEN AND LET US END THIS!"

And so they did.

The Dark Cloud - weakened somewhat from the battle and from suspending the armies into the air - was caught unaware when Evil Lynn blasted him with her magic. Shadow Weaver and Orko joined in, as did Madame Razz, Glimmer, King Hiss and Skeletor. They held the Dark Cloud at bay, beams of incredible powers, spells of endless destruction, and energy of an amazing magnitude struck him.

"Crack open his armor!" yelled out Hordak from behind. "YOU HAVE HIM ON THE ROPES! CRACK HIM OPEN!"

Ram-Man surged forward and slammed into the Dark Cloud's back. After he smashed into it, Whiplash's large tail went next. Then came Roboto, Rattlor, and all the others. It was an amazing sight to see as they all fought against this common enemy.

Man-E-Faces, Mekaneck, Ram-Man, Fisto, Moss Man, Roboto, Sy-Klone, Rio Blast, Extendar, Snout Spout, Clamp Champ, Rotar, Orko, Lubic, Stonedar, Rokkon, Glimmer, Madame Razz, Broom, Bow, Kowl, Frosta, Blade, Beast-Man, Clawful, Evil-Lynn, Jitsu, Saurod, Spikor, Stinkor, Trap-Jaw, Tri-Klops, Two-Bad, Webstor, Whiplash, Karg, Kobra Khan, Rattlor, Snake-Face, Sssqueeze, Tung Lashor, Blast-Attack, Twistoid, the Meteorbs, Dragstor, Grizzlor, Leech, Mantenna, Catra, Entrapa, Scorpia - they raged against the Dark Cloud.

He began to crumble beneath their combined strength.

And then the Dark Cloud stood up. Power fumed its body as the armor exploded. The being within was exposed to the group of heroes and villains. With the armor gone, the Nameless One was revealed to be a living, thriving storm in the shape of a human figure.

A terrible power was released from within this form. It flared and tossed the Heroic Warriors, Great Rebellion, Evil Warriors, the Snake Men and the Horde Elite to the ground. Skeletor and King Hiss dashed across the drawbridge and into Grayskull in the hopes on mounting one final assault.

With the fallen warriors around him, and the greatest army ever formed suspended in the air, the Dark Cloud stepped towards the drawbridge. But suddenly - it slammed shut!

A beam of energy struck the Dark Cloud and he was smashed against the ground. A figure clad in red armor drifted from the skies.

"ZODAK . . ." rumbled the thunder-voice of the Dark Cloud.

Zodak lifted his staff. "The Cosmic Enforcers stopped you once. I shall be the one that will stop you this time."